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of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters.

19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;

20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

22 And Chenaniah, ehief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers for the ark.

24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah tcere door-keepers for the ark.

25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.

26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and

seven rams.

27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.

28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.

CHAPTER XVI.

So they brought the ark of God,

and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt-sacrifices and peace-offerings before God.

2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

3 And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of

wine.

4 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel;

5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah,

Numbers, iv. 15; vii. 9.-Ver. 24. Numbers, x. 8.-Ver. 25. 2 Sam. vi. 12-16.

Ver. 1. 2 Sam. vi. 17.- Ver. 7. See 2 Sam. xxiii. 1; and Psalm ev. 1.

and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom; and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps: but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;

6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm, to thank the LORD, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

18 Oye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac ;

17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

19 When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.

20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,

21 He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LonD made the heavens.

27 Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

28 Give unto the Loan, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him; worship the LORD in the beauty of holi

ness.

30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lond reigneth.

32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.

33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Load.

37 So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required;

38 And Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be porters:

39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD, in the high place that was at Gibeon,

40 To offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt-offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel :

41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for

ever :

42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.

48 And all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

CHAPTER XVII.

NOW it came to pass, as David

sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: 5 Por I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars ?

7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheep-cote, even from following the sheep, that thon shouldest be ruler over my people Israel;

8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies. from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth:

Ver. 34. Psalms, evi, evil exviii. cxxxvi.-Ver. 43. 2 Sam. VI. 20.

Ver. 1. 2 Sam. vii. 1.-Ver. 13.

9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel: moreover, I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore tell thee, that the LORD will build thee an house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired, that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son; and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for evermore.

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

26 And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

27 Now therefore let it please

2. Sam. vii. 14.-Ver. 27. The

thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lond, and it shall be blessed for ever.

CHAPTER XVIII.

NOW after this it came to pass,

that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zohah,

10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Toù ;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold, and silver, and brass.

11 Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud recorder;

devout reader will peruse this prayer of David with frequent delight it expresses the feelings which every day become more familiar to his heart-that assurance in the overruling providence of the Almighty Father, which forms the groundwork of all his hopes-that observation of the fulfilment of his promises, which furnishes him with perpetual proofs of his truth and

mercy.

Ver. 1. See 2 Sam. viii. 1.

16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;

17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

CHAPTER XIX.

No WOW it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants. of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3 But the princes of the children. of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst, hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served and he sent to meet them;. (for the men were greatly ashamed;) and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city; and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

Ver. 17. Chief about the king: that is, held the chief offices among those who ministered to him.

Ver. 1. See 2 Sam. x. 1.-Ver. 7. The number mentioned in the parallel passage in the book of Samuel is twenty thousand footmen, of king Maachah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men: if we suppose, then, that the bulk of the army fought from chariots, as was the ancient custom, the only difference between the two accounts is, that here the chariots are mentioned, while, in the former passage, the soldiers are enumerated.-Ver. 10. 2 Sam. x. To reconcile the numbers here named with those in the parallel passage, we may either suppose that each of the chariots contained several men,

11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God; and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

14 So Joab, and the people that were with him, drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; aud they fled before him.

15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 And when the Syrians saw

that they were put to the worse

before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river; and Shophach, the captain of the host of Hadarezer, went before them.

17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

CHAPTER XX.

AND it came to pass, that after

the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah; (but David tarried at Jerusalem;) and Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes: even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

or that, in the former account, only the select, or chief, of the armed chariots were considered; or that what is omitted in the one account. is named in the other; so that, while the one mentions those who fought on foot, the other alludes only to those who were mounted on horses, or fought from their cha riots. The point is one of litt.e importance, for those who, at one period of the battle, were mounted, might, at another, be driven to contend on foot.

Ver. 1. 2 Sam. xi. 1; xii. 30;

4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant and they were subdued.

And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear's staff was like a weaver's beam.

6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was the son of the giant.

7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, slew him.

8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

CHAPTER XXI.

AND Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

2 And David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab: wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an huudred thousand men that drew sword; and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

9 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,

10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee

12 Either three years' famine; or three mouths to be destroyed

xxi. 18.-Ver. 4. Gezer in Samuel, Gob. Sippai in Samuel, Saph.

Ver. 1. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1.- Ver. 5. The number mentioned in Samuel is eight hundred thousand for Israel, and five hundred for Judah; but all these were "raliant men that drew the sword:" the word

valiant" seems to have been applied by way of distinction; and the numbers named in this place. refer, most probably, to the whole force of the kingdom.-Ver. 9. 1

before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now there fore advise thyself what word I snall bring again to him that seut

me.

13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: iet me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let mne not fall into the hand of

man.

14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Load stood by the thrashing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned, and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the thrashing-floor of Ornan the Jebu.

site.

19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.

20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was thrashing wheat.

21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked, and saw David, and went out of the thrashing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this thrashing-floor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt graut it me for the full price; that the plague may be stayed from the people.

23 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt-offerings, and the thrashing-instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering; I give it all.

24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt-offerings without

cost.

25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt

Sam. ix. 9. -Ver. 15. Ornan of

offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering.

27 And the LORD commanded the angel, and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the thrashing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.

29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt-offering, were at that season in the high-place at Gibeon.

30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

CHAPTER XXII.

THEN David said, This is the

house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel.

2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;

4 Also cedar-trees in abundance: for the Zidonians, and they of Tyre, brought much cedar-wood to David.

5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israci.

7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:

S But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.

11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.

12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.

Araunah.-Ver. 26. Levit. ix. 24. -Ver. 29. 1 Kings, iii. 4.

Ver. 1. 2 Sam. xxiv. 18.-Ver. 2. 1 Kings, ix. 21. Ver. 7. 2 Sam. vii. 2; and xi. and xii.-Ver. 8. Kings, v. 3.-Ver. 10. This is supposed to have roferred spiri

13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thon takest heed to fulfil the sta tutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; (for it is in abundance:) timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

15 Moreover, there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.

16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.

17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,

18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side ? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.

19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God: arise therefore, and build ye the sanetuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

CHAPTER XXIII. So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

ཕྱ ། And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.

3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

4 Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:

5 Moreover, four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites were Laadan and Shimei.

8 The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

tually to Christ, as well as, or more than, literally to Solomon.-Ver. 14. The minor talent is, in all probability, here meant.

Ver. 1. Kings, i. 33.-Ver. 3. See Numbers, iv. 3-47; and viii. 25. The thirty-eight thousand Levites were exclusive of the priests, as appears from the numbers of each division as set down below. Nothing can give a grander idea of the care taken for the service of the temple than this separation of so vast a class of men, out of a comparatively small community, to the duties of religion. But the Israelites were a nation of

9 The sons of Shimei ; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.

10 And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.

11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.

12 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.

13 The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.

14 Now concerning Moses, the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses were Ger. shom and Eliezer.

16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

17 And the sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.

18 Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.

19 Of the sons of Hebron ; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 Of the sons of Uzziel; Micah the first, and Jesiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari; Mahli and Mushi. The sous of Mahli; Eleazar and Kish.

22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters; and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.

23 The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.

25 For David said, the LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:

26 And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.

27 For, by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:

28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron, for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;

29 Both for the shew-bread, and for the fine flour for meat-offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;

priests a people wholly consecrated to God, provided for by his perpetual mercy, and upheld for a special purpose.-Ver. 24. The Levites were now admitted to the duties of their office at an earlier age than formerly, because the tabernacle being stationary, a far less degree of labour was required in the discharge of their functions than at

30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

31 And to offer all burnt-sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new-moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:

32 And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

CHAPTER XXIV.

NOW these are the divisions of

the sons of Aaron.

The sons

of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.

3 And David distributed them, both Zadok, of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar, according to the house of their fathers.

5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the seribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

The ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecania,

12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,

16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,

17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maziah.

19 These were the orderings of them in their service, to come into the house of the LORD, according

their original institution.-Ver. 32. Numbers, iii. 6; Exod. xxv. 30; Levit. ii. and vi.

Ver. 1. See Levit. x. 1.-Ver. 2. Numbers, iii. 4; xxvi. 61.-Ver. 10. Luke, i. 5. Abijah, or Abia. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of this order.

to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.

21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.

22 Of the Izharites; Shelomoth : of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath. 23 And the sons of Hebron ; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.

24 Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah of the sons of Michah; Shamir.

25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.

26The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.

27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.

28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.

29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.

30 The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites, after the house of their fathers.

31 These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron, in the presence of David the king, and Zadok and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

CHAPTER XXV.

MOREOVER David, and the

captains of the host, separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals : and the number of the workmen, according to their service, was:

2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.

3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

4 Of Hemau: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:

5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

Ver. 1. The word prophesy is here used in a general sense, and means, to sing divine songs-to worship God; but, in doing this, the divine Spirit sometimes inspired the mind of the singer with the knowledge of heavenly mysteries; and hence the expression is to be taken as signifying that exercise of worship which formed the groundwork of prophesying. See 1 Sam. xix. 20.-Ver. 2. Asaph: this is the Asaph whose name is inscribed at the head of so many of the psalms.

6 All these were under the hauds of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, salteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even ali that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who, with his brethren and sons, were twelve:

10 The third to Zaccur, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve: 11 The fourth to Izri, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

12 The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

13 The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

14 The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

15 The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

16 The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

17 The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

18 The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

19 The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

20 The thirteenth to Shubzel, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

23 The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

25 The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

26 The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

27 The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

28 The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

29 The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

30 The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve:

31 The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons and his brethren, were twelve.

CHAPTER XXVI.

CONCERNING the divisions of

the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

Ver. 1. The porters: that is, those who were set apart to keep

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